Harvesting Amaranth Grain - The Survival Podcast

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For more cool ways to be prepared visit http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com. In this video Jack Spirko from The Survival Podcast shows you how to harvest grain from amaranth grown in a home garden. Harvesting amaranth grain is actually simple to do and only take a few minutes. Several species are raised for amaranth grain in Asia and the Americas. Ancient amaranth grains still used to this day include the three species, A. caudatus, A. cruentus, and A. hypochondriacus. Amaranth was (and still is) cultivated on a small scale in parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, India, and Nepal, there is potential for further cultivation in the U.S and tropical countries and it has been called "the crop of the future" by permaculturists and others. Amaranth is high in protein, particularly in the amino acid, Lysine, which is low in the cereal grains. In fact, Amaranth has the highest lysine content of all the grains in this study with Quinoa coming in a close second. To make your whole wheat bread a complete protein, substitute about 25% of your wheat flour with Amaranth flour. Amaranth, by itself, has a really nice amino acid blend. Just 150 grams of the grain is all that's required to supply an adult with 100% of the daily requirement of protein. Amaranth is one of the highest grains in fiber content. This makes Amaranth an effective agent against cancer and heart disease. Amaranth is also the only grain in this study that contains significant amounts of phytosterols which scientists are just now learning play a major part in the prevention of all kinds of diseases. Amaranth is also rich in many vitamins and minerals. This video is not about gardening but it does show my Golden Giant Amaranth from this season. http://www.jackspirko.com/episode-13-optimizing-website-and-business-processes

Comments

Anyone know if it is done before or after the frost?

I eat it live, fresh and raw right before and after a workout. I don't even rinse it off.

It's about time I see someone using the blow method. I've been watching videos on amaranth all day and everyone has their ways to clean their chaff from their seeds but no one does it the easy way, the way you or I would by blowing. I was starting to wonder if I was the only one to do it that way. Are way is the best! You're the man. :-) Quick n easy.

Great video! Thanks!

won't a strainer work better?

Wind winnowing is a useful skill to learn. If you even pour the seeds from one container to another in a light breeze you'll see the wind does the job for you

I was planting corn last year, but my HOA rules are tightening up, and I'm planting amaranth because it blends in better with an urban environment. It is also supposed to give a higher yield than corn.

this is impressive presentation on Amaranth . this plants is good for influmation..blood pressure ..cancer..

VERY NICE and HELPFUL video. Thank you very much. I am a backyard gardener with about 15 plants. I want to try some of this seed in my bread making. Next year I will have more growing.

I like how you follow up calling them seeds after you call them grains. Too many people don't realize they are seeds not a grain.

Bobs Red Mill amaranth can be grown just like feed store seeds. They grow like crazy. Are certified organic and grow in nearly any conditions.

What a GREAT video! Very informative. Just what I was looking for as a gardening newbie wondering what to do with my 8 foot tall Amaranth... Thank you so much!

or you could just toss the flower head to the chickens & then eat the healthier eggs!

Great video! How do I know when to harvest the grain.

Awesome video...Which kind is the best to make flour out of? Do you know where I can buy some good organic seeds at just in case I can't find it in my local wild life area?

Very helpful. Thanks. This is first time growing amaranth.

Hey Jack, thanks so much for being so thorough. This was a GREAT video. You can count me as a new subscriber.

I stir fry the entire plants when they are only about a foot tall, by the time they are this big the stems are way to woody to eat.

There has to be an easier way.

how much grain will grind into how much flour